JOSIE

Former Head Girl

---

My time at Llandovery College has undoubtedly been filled with opportunity, growth and fun. Moving from Swansea to a boarding school in the Welsh countryside was a major change for me, but thanks to the nurturing environment of the College my independence, personality and confidence has increased beyond belief.

I have always been passionate about music and studying at Llandovery College has allowed me to become involved in many rewarding aspects of the Music Department. Being a member of both the Chapel Choir and College Choir has given me the opportunity to sing in various styles; from pop to classical and in languages from Zulu to Latin. In my last year at the College, I was able to co-lead the Chapel Choir as Head Chorister; something that has definitely developed my leadership abilities and confidence. I have very fond memories of being a part of Sixth Sense, performing on Speech Day and in the College’s Remembrance Day services and also taking part in school productions such as Les Misérables and Return to the Forbidden Planet.

Sport, a fundamental aspect of Llandovery College, has also been a big part of my experience. I never previously considered myself a hockey or rugby player but I can now say that I love both sports, even though I am arguably not the best at either. What inspired my fondness is the atmosphere and energy that sport brings to the school; how every pupil and teacher will come together to support a rugby match on Tredegar pitch or the annual hockey match against Christ College. Furthermore, I have really enjoyed being captain of the 1st VII Netball Team, revelling in the enthusiasm to play and train as a team where we always give our all to every game.

Boarding in Tŷ Llanofer was a fantastic experience where we often all came together to participate in Inter-house Competitions, ranging from the Academic Challenge to the Eisteddfod. When I first arrived in College I shared a room with a German student who only intended on staying for five months, but we became best friends and I convinced her to stay for the full academic year. I have made some of my closest friendships by boarding and, in the future, I hope we can look back and retell stories of the memories we made together.

Attending Llandovery College has given me many unique opportunities. One of the biggest benefits is the small class sizes, this allows teachers to establish a close working relationship with their pupils and get the very best out of them. The Science Department arranged regular visits to Swansea University where we undertook science experiments and even inter-school competitions. This allowed me to apply my skills in a variety of different environments. The most significant opportunity that I took advantage of outside of my A Level studies, was the school exchange programme to Australia. We were welcomed into the hearts and homes of our exchange families and also attended school there. We experienced different ways of living, schooling and culture, and some of the highlights of my seven week exchange were surfing in Byron Bay and climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

In these unprecedented global times, my school year group is very uncertain of our next steps, whether they be to university, apprenticeships or going into work. However, I can safely say, thanks to the unwavering support from both academic and pastoral staff, I now feel prepared for the challenges of life having grown into my independence within a caring, encouraging and supportive environment.